Renting in Nevada? Here's What You Need to Know About Radon Exposure in Your Home

When conversations about radon gas arise in Nevada, they almost always center on homeowners—people who can commission tests, hire mitigation contractors, and make structural changes to their properties. But nearly a third of Nevada residents rent their homes. That's a substantial portion of the population living in spaces they do not control, potentially breathing air that no one has ever tested for one of the nation's leading environmental health hazards.

This article is for renters. It covers what radon is, why rental properties carry unique risks, what Nevada law currently says about disclosure, and—critically—what you can do right now to protect yourself and your household.

Why Renters Face a Distinct Set of Radon Risks

Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium in soil and rock breaks down. It seeps into buildings through foundation cracks, gaps around pipes, and other openings at ground level. Because radon is heavier than most air components, it tends to accumulate in lower spaces—basements, crawl spaces, and ground-floor rooms.

Renters who occupy garden-level apartments, basement units, or ground-floor rooms in older construction face elevated exposure risk simply by virtue of where they live. Unlike a homeowner who might notice a problem and immediately call a mitigation specialist, a renter typically has no authority to install sub-slab depressurization systems or seal foundation penetrations. That dependency on a landlord's willingness to act creates a meaningful gap in protection.

Adding to the challenge, Nevada's desert geology—with its uranium-rich soils and varied geological formations—contributes to radon potential across many parts of the state. Elevated readings have been documented in communities from the Las Vegas Valley to Reno and beyond. The assumption that Nevada's dry climate somehow neutralizes radon risk is not supported by the evidence.

What Nevada Law Currently Requires—and Where It Falls Short

Federal law does not mandate radon disclosure for residential rental properties. At the state level, Nevada does not currently have a specific statute requiring landlords to test for radon or disclose known radon levels to prospective tenants before they sign a lease. This stands in contrast to some other states that have begun incorporating radon into their landlord-tenant disclosure frameworks.

What Nevada does have is a general implied warranty of habitability. Under NRS Chapter 118A, landlords are required to maintain rental properties in a condition fit for human habitation. While radon has not been explicitly named in Nevada case law as a habitability concern, the broader principle—that a landlord must address conditions that materially affect a tenant's health and safety—could potentially apply if radon levels in a unit are demonstrably hazardous.

It is worth noting that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers radon levels at or above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) to be actionable, and recommends considering mitigation at levels between 2 and 4 pCi/L. A unit consistently measuring above these thresholds could, in theory, support a habitability argument—though tenants should consult with a Nevada attorney familiar with landlord-tenant law before pursuing that avenue.

Practical Steps Tenants Can Take Right Now

The absence of a clear legal mandate does not mean renters are without options. Several practical measures can help you assess and reduce your risk.

Purchase a short-term or long-term radon test kit. These are widely available at hardware stores and online for as little as $15 to $30. A short-term charcoal canister test placed in your lowest livable area for two to seven days will give you a preliminary reading. A long-term alpha track detector left in place for 90 days or more will provide a more accurate seasonal average. Neither requires landlord permission to use.

Document your findings before contacting your landlord. If your test returns a result at or above 4 pCi/L, keep the original report, note the date and placement location, and photograph the test kit in situ. This documentation becomes important if you need to escalate the matter.

Communicate your concerns in writing. Verbal conversations are easily forgotten or disputed. Send your landlord or property management company a written notice—email works well for creating a timestamped record—describing your test results, citing the EPA's action guidelines, and formally requesting that the property be professionally tested and, if necessary, mitigated. A written request also begins the paper trail that could support future legal action if the landlord refuses to respond.

Reference Nevada's habitability standards. When writing to your landlord, you may wish to reference NRS 118A.290, which outlines tenant remedies when a landlord fails to maintain habitable conditions. While radon is not explicitly listed, the statute's language is broad enough that a landlord receiving a formal written complaint about a documented health hazard may choose to act rather than risk legal exposure.

Contact Nevada's housing authorities if the landlord is unresponsive. Local code enforcement offices and the Nevada Real Estate Division may have limited jurisdiction over radon specifically, but a formal complaint about habitability can sometimes prompt landlord action more effectively than tenant correspondence alone.

Interim Measures to Reduce Exposure While You Wait

If testing reveals elevated radon levels and your landlord has not yet arranged for mitigation, there are steps you can take to reduce your personal exposure in the interim.

Increase ventilation in your unit by opening windows on opposite sides of your home to encourage cross-ventilation, particularly in lower-level rooms. Avoid spending extended periods in basement or ground-floor areas if upper floors are available to you. If you have a choice of sleeping location, consider moving to a higher floor temporarily.

These measures will not eliminate radon, but they can meaningfully reduce the concentration in the air you breathe while a longer-term solution is arranged.

Knowing When to Consider Other Options

If a landlord refuses to acknowledge documented radon concerns, ignores written requests, or denies that a hazard exists despite clear test results, renters may need to weigh their options more carefully. Depending on the severity of the readings and the length of remaining lease term, consulting with a tenant's rights attorney or reaching out to legal aid organizations in Nevada may be appropriate next steps.

In some circumstances, persistent unaddressed health hazards may constitute grounds for lease termination under Nevada's repair-and-deduct or constructive eviction provisions—though these are legal determinations that require professional guidance.

The broader point is this: being a renter in Nevada does not mean surrendering your right to safe indoor air. Radon is a manageable hazard, but only when it is first identified and then addressed. Taking the initiative to test, document, and communicate is well within a tenant's power—and it may well be the most important action you take for your household's long-term health.